The Universal Clock: The Resistance of Peter Watkins (2001)
by Geoff Bowie

National Film Board of Canada
Documentary
Runtime: 1:16:27

3 parts, part 1/3

"The Universal Clock" is a documentary which accompanies the boxed dvd set of Peter Watkins' "La Commune (Paris, 1871)." The author of The Universal Clock (UC) takes us through both the production process of La Commune and the commercial barriers to having Watkins' recreation of the Paris Commune shown after it was created. The Universal Clock refers to the standardization of video content on the 47 minute model (with commercial and public service announcements taking up the balance of the time.) Watkins calls this the 'monoform' and is shown describing his concept of the monoform. In documenting the process of making "La Commune" UC has interviews with members of the cast who were non-professionals participating in this group project. These Parisians and immigrants talk about how being a part of the performance changed the way they view themselves and the media around them.

Peter Watkins' official site: http://www.mnsi.net/~pwatkins/
Rebond pour La Commune - An Association for the promotion and distribution of "La Commune (Paris 1871)": http://www.rebond.org/achete.htm
Icarus Films: http://icarusfilms.com/new2002/uni.html
About "La Commune": http://icarusfilms.com/new2002/la.html
Images & stills: ONF - NFB: http://www3.onf.ca/collection/films/fiche/medias.php?id=50446

plus-circle Add Review

comment

Reviews